IT WAS an eventful weekend for the Basingstoke hockey community, with a mix of wins, draws, and challenges that kept players and supporters on their toes.

Basingstoke Ladies 1s, sponsored by K J Smith Solicitors, embarked on their longest journey of the season to take on Exeter Ladies 1s. After a closely contested match against Cheltenham the previous week, Basingstoke was eager to secure their first points of the season.

However, Exeter came out strong, and Basingstoke found themselves trailing 0-3 by the end of the first quarter. Despite their best efforts, Basingstoke was unable to find the back of the net, and the score stood at 0-4 at halftime. The second half mirrored the first, with Basingstoke conceding two penalty strokes. While goalkeeper Gemma Carswell managed to save one, the final score saw Exeter winning 7-0.

Basingstoke Ladies 1s will have a chance to bounce back when they play Bristol Firebrands at home next week.

On the men's side, Basingstoke Men's 1s faced a tense battle against Fareham Men's 2s. Both teams proved evenly matched, setting the stage for a nail-biting game.

The first half remained goalless, with Basingstoke goalkeeper Ben Cowling making stellar saves to keep Fareham at bay. In the second half, the game's opening goal came from a well-coordinated team effort. Danny Bowden, Grant Rouse, Liam Harrison, and coach Andy Pett combined to break the deadlock, giving Basingstoke a 1-0 lead.

Basingstoke held their ground, creating more opportunities and defending resolutely. Thanks to goalkeeper Cowling's superb saves, the score remained 1-0 until the final whistle.

Basingstoke Men's 1s now lead the table with 12 points and will return to action on October 28th when they take on Witney Men's 1s at home.

Other results across Basingstoke's hockey teams

The hockey action extended across multiple teams in Basingstoke:

Basingstoke Ladies 2s played to a 1-1 draw against Banbury Ladies 1s.

Basingstoke Men's 2s secured a goalless draw against Trojan's Men's 3s.

Basingstoke Ladies 3s had a thrilling 3-3 draw against Hamble Ladies 1s, with goals from Jess Dudman, Maiya Hamilton, and Sarah Lemasney.

Basingstoke Men's 3s faced a 2-4 loss against Trojan's Men's 4s.

Basingstoke Men's 4s were awarded a 5-0 walkover victory against Hamble Men's 3s.

Basingstoke Ladies 5s clinched their first win of the season, defeating Portsmouth Ladies 3s with a score of 3-2, with Harriet Sage contributing two crucial goals.

Basingstoke Men's 5s played out a 2-2 draw against Trojans Men's 5s.

Basingstoke Men's 7s faced Basingstoke Men's 6s, and despite a good all-around performance, the game ended 0-4 in favor of the 6s.